Lobbying leads to rift between GOP Catholic lawmakers, church

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. -- Some Catholic Republican lawmakers are upset with their church for lobbying against GOP proposals to cut the Medicaid health-care program and support life sciences research.

The rift began with a March 15 letter to lawmakers from the Missouri Catholic Conference, signed by the state's five bishops. It was critical of legislation by Rep. Jodi Stefanick, R-Ballwin, a Catholic, that would have toughened Medicaid eligibility criteria, required patient co-payments and made such services as optical and dental care subject to yearly appropriation.

House Republicans have argued the state's Medicaid rolls, which now cover one in six Missourians, have grown too large.

But the bishops said the Medicaid bill would "jeopardize access to health care for many of our poorest citizens" and they advised lawmakers: "Let us not be like the rich man who pretended not to know the beggar Lazarus lying at his gate."

Some Republicans were further angered by an April 22 letter from the Catholic Conference concerning an economic development bill that would allow universities to seek private money for endowed life sciences chairs -- a provision backed by House Speaker Catherine Hanaway, of Warson Woods, who also is Catholic.

Supporters said the measure could allow Kansas City's Stowers Institute for Medical Research to partner with the University of Missouri-Kansas City. The letter, which was not signed by the bishops, complained the bill would allow state funding for research involving abortion, stem cells and human cloning.

Hanaway and other Republicans, however, said the language was the same wording the Catholic Conference agreed to a year ago.

Stefanick, who believes she closely follows church teachings, said it was frustrating to find herself on the opposite side of the church's lobbying arm.

"I think everyone was surprised" by the Medicaid letter, Stefanick said. "It seemed to me people were questioning why the Catholic Conference was inserting itself so deeply on this issue."

Catholic Rep. Paul LeVota, D-Independence, said the Catholic Conference is known for its work with the poor and should have been expected to weigh in on the Medicaid issue. He said the response from Republicans toward the Catholic Conference "was just another example of Republican leadership not getting their way and then railing against someone politically."

As a result of the lobbying effort, Stefanick said she has tried to distinguish between the church and its lobbyist, Larry Weber, who is executive director of the Missouri Catholic Conference.

But Weber said there is no distinction.

"When I come in and speak for the bishops, I'm speaking for the Catholic Church in Missouri," he said. "There's no separation."

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On the Net:

Missouri General Assembly: http://www.moga.state.mo.us/

Missouri Catholic Conference: http://www.mocatholic.org/

Stowers Institute: http://www.stowers-institute.org/